“And next to him was Shammah, the son of Agee the Hararite. The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the men fled from the Philistines. *But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and struck down the Philistines, and the Lord worked a great victory.”

—2 Samuel 23:11–12 (ESV)

The Power of a Quiet Stand

 

There are victories so loud they shake nations—and then there are victories so quiet they almost go unnoticed. The story of Shammah, one of David’s mighty men, is one of those quiet victories.

 

No armies rallied to his side.

No crowds cheered his name.

Just a man, a field of lentils, and an advancing enemy.

 

It wasn’t a battlefield that seemed worth fighting for.

No riches. No glory. Just a small, ordinary field.

 

But Shammah stood his ground—and God brought a great victory.

 

Sometimes, the greatest battles we fight are not on big stages but in the everyday fields of life—in the slow grind, the small moments, the hard places where faithfulness seems unnoticed. And yet, it is in these moments that we glorify God the most—when we boldly walk in His ways, refusing to compromise, planting seeds by our daily witness so that others may one day come to Christ.

1. The Small Places Matter: Every Inch for God’s Glory

 

“The Philistines gathered together at Lehi, where there was a plot of ground full of lentils…”

 

A lentil field—small, unimpressive, ordinary. Not a fortress, not a throne room, but a patch of ground most would leave behind without a second thought.

 

Why stand for a lentil field?

 

Because every inch of ground given by God is sacred.

Because small places matter when they are part of God’s promise.

Because faithfulness in the ordinary brings glory to God.

 

We often chase big victories—the career promotions, the ministry platforms, the visible successes. But what if the true measure of our faith is found in the small places—

• In how we work when no one notices.

• In how we speak when no one applauds.

• In how we live daily with boldness for Christ, even when it costs us.

 

Shammah teaches us this truth:

 

“If God gave the ground, it’s worth defending—no matter how small it seems.”

 

The field may look insignificant, but God’s glory is magnified when His people are faithful in the small things (Luke 16:10).

2. The Boldness to Walk Openly: A Life That Plants Seeds

 

“…and the men fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand…”

 

Shammah stood when others fled.

 

It would have been easy to run. To blend in. To avoid the cost of standing out.

But Shammah chose boldness—he chose to walk openly in his loyalty to God, even when standing meant standing alone.

 

This is the boldness that glorifies God.

Not just bold words, but bold living—the kind of life that speaks louder than any sermon.

 

You know this path well.

• You were once leading from the top, with influence and recognition.

• But God called you to a new field, starting at the bottom—a place where progress has been slow because of your boldness for Christ.

• You chose to walk openly, refusing to hide your faith for the sake of advancement.

 

And that stand is not in vain.

 

Every conversation where you spoke truth,

Every decision where you chose integrity over convenience,

Every moment you lived boldly and openly for Christ—

You planted seeds.

 

Seeds in the hearts of those watching.

Seeds that may take years to grow, but one day, someone will remember:

 

“I saw how they lived. I saw how they stood. I heard the name of Jesus in their life.”

 

And that seed may lead them to Christ.

 

Your daily boldness glorifies God and echoes into eternity, even when progress feels slow and unseen.

3. Standing in the Grind: When Faithfulness Feels Unnoticed

 

Standing in a lentil field doesn’t feel glorious.

It feels like hard work, like grinding without reward.

 

When you’ve been at the top—training, leading, overseeing—it’s hard to start again at the bottom.

It’s harder still when your boldness for Christ slows the climb.

 

But here’s the truth Shammah shows us:

 

God measures success by faithfulness, not speed.

 

The grind is sacred when it’s done for the glory of God.

• Every hour of honest work when shortcuts tempt you.

• Every moment you choose faith over fear when advancement seems slow.

• Every stand for truth that costs you favor in the world’s eyes.

 

These are lentil field victories—small but significant, because in them, you glorify God by saying:

 

“This ground belongs to the Lord. I will not surrender it.”

 

The world may not see, but God sees.

And He delights in the faithfulness that holds the line, even when no one is watching.

4. Living Boldly: The Seeds Planted by a Daily Witness

 

Boldness for Christ is more than moments of dramatic courage.

It is a daily decision to live openly, truthfully, and faithfully.

 

Shammah didn’t make his stand for applause.

He stood because the ground belonged to God.

 

And when you live boldly for Christ, you do the same.

 

Your daily witness plants seeds in the hearts of those who watch:

• A co-worker who hears you speak with integrity.

• An employee who watches how you treat others with grace.

• A friend who sees you remain steady in hardship.

 

They may not say a word now.

They may not seem moved at all.

 

But God is using your bold life to plant seeds—

Seeds that may one day break through the soil when they face their own battles.

Seeds that may lead them to ask:

 

“What gave them that kind of strength? Who gave them that kind of hope?”

 

And in that moment, the seed planted by your faithful daily living may bear the fruit of salvation.

5. The Victory Belongs to the Lord: God Fights for Those Who Stand

 

“…and the Lord worked a great victory.”

 

Shammah stood. God won.

 

Shammah didn’t win the battle by strength alone.

He stood his ground—God fought for him.

 

This is the pattern of the Kingdom:

• We stand.

• We live boldly.

• We refuse to compromise.

• And God brings the victory.

 

The progress may feel slow.

The work may feel unseen.

But God fights for those who stand for Him.

 

And His victories are always worth the wait.

6. Bold Living for the Sake of Others

 

Shammah’s stand wasn’t just for himself.

The victory God worked that day was a victory for all God’s people—even those who fled.

 

Your bold living, your daily stands, your unwavering faithfulness—they are not just for you.

They are for those who are watching, even silently.

 

One day, someone may come to Christ because they saw you live for Him daily.

Because you walked openly, refusing to hide your boldness for the sake of comfort.

Because you stood your ground, showing that faith in Christ is worth everything.

 

Your stand plants seeds for eternity.

7. Christ: The Ultimate One Who Stood for Us

 

Shammah’s story ultimately points us to the greater One who stood alone—Jesus Christ.

• Jesus stood in the garden, while His disciples slept.

• Jesus stood before Pilate, silent in the face of accusations.

• Jesus stood on Calvary, carrying the weight of our sin, alone.

 

He stood because our souls were the field worth defending.

He stood so that we could stand boldly for Him today.

He stood to glorify the Father and to plant the seeds of salvation in every generation.

 

Now He calls us to stand boldly in His name—

To walk openly so others may see and believe.

To live faithfully so that the seeds of our witness may bloom in the hearts of those who hear and see.

A Final Call: Stand Boldly, Walk Openly, Plant Seeds

 

Shammah stood in a small field, and God brought a great victory.

 

You stand in the field God has given you now.

It may seem small.

Progress may be slow.

The cost of boldness may feel high.

 

But this is your field, and this is your stand:

• Walk openly in the ways of Christ.

• Live boldly so others can see Him in you.

• Stand faithfully, knowing that every step of obedience plants seeds for eternity.

 

The victory belongs to the Lord.

The seeds planted by your daily stand will one day bear fruit.

And in it all, God will be glorified.

A Prayer for Boldness and Faithfulness

 

Lord, give me the heart of Shammah—to stand in the small places, to be bold in the daily grind, and to walk openly in Your ways. Let my life glorify You so that those who see me live will see You at work. Give me the courage to stand when progress feels slow and the faith to believe that seeds planted in faith will one day bloom for Your glory. Use my daily witness to lead others to Christ, and when the victory comes, let all the glory be Yours. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Bold Stands, Small Fields, Eternal Impact

 Shammah stood alone—but God worked a great victory.

 

Your field may feel small.

Your progress may seem slow.

But when you stand boldly for Christ, you glorify God in ways you may never fully see.

 

Someone is watching.

Seeds are being planted.

And one day, a soul may come to Christ because you chose to stand.

 

So, stand your ground.

Walk openly.

Live boldly.

 

Because when you stand for Christ, you stand for eternity—

And God’s victory is always worth the wait.